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Passport stamps
Hartster
I'd thought I'd start a discussion on where to get passport stamped from places that normally don't stamp them - e.g., if you're on a cruise from the US visiting the Caribbean on a US passport, those ports of call don't (normally) stamp your passport.
What worked for you (or possible places to do so or what didn't work), and the date it worked, should be posted here. The usual caveats apply: this info is not to be used for illegal purposes, don't demand a stamp, and of course, the immigration authorities have the right to change their mind and not stamp.
In order for this to work, contribute as well as take info. Please.
I'll start. From my 18-28 Jan 07 cruise (US passport):
Tortola, British Vigin Islands. In Road Town, walk from the cruise ship dock to the main road and make a left. The Tourist Board office is just past the market. Don't go to the tourism window. Instead, go inside, and just past the stairs on the right hand side is a door unmarked except for a bunch of "authorized persons only" stickers. That's the door of the immigration officer. I made a request for a souvenir stamp and they said OK.
In St. Maarten (Dutch side), I was told the immigration officer was located past the cruise ship docks, where the cargo containers were, so I didn't have time to go investigate. Couldn't find the tourism office in St. Martin (French side) and also didn't have enough time to find out where immigration was. Also didn't have time in Nassau, the Bahamas.
Didn't need it, but there is a US Customs and Border Patrol office in the cruise terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In the forum
Recent blog posts
PassportStamp - the site where you can create your personalized travel maps and see who has visited each of the world's countries
Unusual Stamp
You can get your passport stamped at Machu Picchu. Of course you don't actually leave Peru on your visit, but the official office near to the main entrance will put a passport style stamp into your passport that will be probably be one of the more unusual stamps you will get.
N
Inca Trail & Galapagos Island stamps
You can get your passport stamped not only at Machu Picchu, but also at each checkpoint along the Inca Trail...which is nice if you have the space in your passport!
The Galapagos Islands have a nice stamp too - although part of Ecuador, you are required to show your identification when entering and if you ask nicely they'll stamp your passport...
The end of the world
Not quite as dramtic as the subject says but you can get you passport stamped at the museem in Usuhia (the southern tip of patagonia).
The stamp reads "Fin del Mundo".
Liechtenstein
You can also get your passport stamped in the tourist office at Vaduz. You have to pay them a euro or two (which as we all know, is cheating). But it looks rather nice. And you get to do something in the otherwise rather dull town...
Heathrow (!)
Also, on the way back from the States, I joined the 'non-EU' line, much to the annoyance of the LHR people, explaining that the US hadn't collected my green visa waiver thingy.. which they hadn't.
Reluctantly, I got a 'Heathrow' in the passport... with a rather disparaging (and large) 'BY REQUEST'... :)
Passport Stamps
On a small island in Aitutaki in the Cook Islands called "One Foot Island" you can get a entry and exit stamp - gimicky and for tourism purposes only - absolutely no need to, but I thought it was fun (I think they charged you for the privilege though!)
Gibraltar
Gibraltar stamps British passports if you ask them nicely... didn't get one on the way in, so I went back to get the stamp... meanwhile the friend I was travelling with, who was waiting at the border and looking suspicious, was being questioned by Spanish police!
Island of Zanzibar
Off the coast of Tanzania there is a famous Island called Zanzibar. It owned by Tanzania and is classed as Tanzania. However you get a Zanzibar stamp if you arrive by boat from the mainland.
Andaman Islands
When you arrive from mainland India into Port Blair, Andaman Islands, since foreigners technically require permission, you are stamped both entry and exit.
Though nothing special when
Though nothing special when I took my wife on a canal boat holiday it was nice to see italy added i've got so many countries around the world i've started putting a little flag on each page.
Panmunjom on the South
Panmunjom on the South Korean side offers a DIY passport stamp experience. Looks a bit cheesy really.
Always Lost...
I've been on a few cruises and have never been able to get my passport stamped. I've looked and search (with never enough time) for places to get them and have never had any luck. Although I have read that some cruise lines will hold your passport for your at the guest relations desk and get them stamped for your while at the port. Royal Caribbean no longer does it and i doubt Celebrity would cause its the same company but other lines just might. Great blog and ill be sure to look here for my next trips.
Also... can you purchase souvenir stamps anywhere online for places you have visited but dont have stamps for?
Tambopata
Yes, I also got the Machu Picchu stamps (I seem to remember actually stamping it myself) and also on entering the Tambopata reserve in Peruvian Amazon by riverboat you get one too.
Gibraltar Stamp
I have both a UK (EU) and a NZ Passport. But my wife has only a NZ one. This means that she can only stay in the EU for a maximum period of three months at a time. Hence we have to leave the EU occasionally and non EU stamps are the best proof of this.. On our trip to Gibraltar she asked whether she could have a stamp and the officer smilingly put his foot down hard and asked "Will that do". He then stamped the passport with a big smile and wished her a pleasant visit.
Mount Rushmore
Got a stamp from Mount Rushmore and Tokyo Tower, Japan. Look nice, but they use up pages when you need them. Honduras didn´t stamp when transited through on bus. Looking for ward to getting Tristan de Cunha stamp next year, even if they charge GBP25 for the privilige.
European Union...?
I have the Machu Picchu stamp and it is sooo cool! I would highly recommend getting it to anyone that is going there because they usually don't charge you for the stamp and it is totally worth the sometimes-lengthy wait to get the stamp.
I'm going to Germany in September and will probably also visit the Czech Republic and maybe Poland. I know that as long as you stay within the EU, they usually don't check passports when traveling from country to country, but I was wondering if anyone knew if it would be possible to get a stamp if you were persistant, and if so, where would you go/what would you do?
Andaman
Hi, I am living in Nepal and leaving for Andaman next week for two weeks,
Looking for somewhere remote and silent, any tips ?
François
Former countries of
Former countries of Tanganyika and Zanzibar form the United Republic of Tanzania. So Zanzibar is not just "classified" as Tanzania; it is a part of the country.